My own Happiness Project

First things first: thank you so much for your comments on my previous post. All of you made me feel so relieved and like less of a crazy person. Monday had me feel the effects of the weekend still in strong discomfort and not wanting to be around other people. ‘Feierabend’ as we call finishing work over here couldn’t come early enough. Introvert issues. Sorry to my colleagues if I seemed distant and reserved. It’s not about you but me. #overusedbuttrue

As you might know by now I’m a huge proponent of finding the little joys in every day, even if it’s not the best one. Worrying a lot about my future and just about everything else this is my way of handling the anxiety. Silver linings are hidden in every day, we just need to actively look for or (!) create them. The latter ties in with the idea proposed in one of the books I’m currently rereading. It’s Gretchen Rubin’s “Happiness Project” – my first time reading it being at least six years ago so I didn’t remember much. I’ve noticed myself subconsciously following a lot of the principles listed already. Still a lot of room for improvement, obviously, but I thought for this Week in Review I’d show you how I incorporate these points in my life. If you feel like it share some of your ways of doing so in the comments! I’m curious to see what they mean to others. Let’s jump into my review of the past seven days. Thanks to Meg for hosting the shenanigans once again!

Act the way you want to feel

Coming from a weekend of a messed up routine and craving me time I can’t deny I wasn’t feeling like socialising at all. Yet when a question by the bank employee – at that the one question I don’t like to be asked -evoked her to keep asking and talking I decided I was all up for it. In good old “fake it till you make” fashion I engaged in the conversation and it turned out to be really encouraging. I can’t say I’d ever experienced this at a bank before. Also can’t pretend I hated it. Read: faking a good mood can actually make you feel happier.

Tackle a nagging task

Dropped some paperwork off at the bank for my mum because their opening hours are ridiculous and she couldn’t make it working longer that day. Speaking before I could think my brain apparently decided I wanted to cross two of my own bank issues at the same time while I was there already. This was on Monday so definitely not a day I felt like tackling these things but it might have felt all the better getting them crossed off my list that day

Cleaned my electric kettle. Please don’t ask how long it had been since the previous time. Let’s just say: long enough. But hey, it’s spanking clean now so that’s all that counts, no?

Adulted by washing a load of laundry and got to let it dry ioutside n the sunshine for the first time this year. It was a wonderful weekend after a rainy start to the week.

Prepared a second batch of what I’ll call peanut butter chocolate crispy treats – any better name suggestions? – for now. You know I’m not one to play favourites but these are high (!) up on top of the list. High.

Took pictures of said treats. Did I ever mention this is my least favourite part of recipe creation? It’s frustrating.

Get in movement and time in nature [my own addition to the list]

Went for morning walks on both Saturday and Sunday. Starting my days first reading for a while, then getting to soak up sunshine and fresh air was blissful.

Indulge in a modest splurge.

Treated myself to little ‘extras’ here and there throughout the week. Bad consciousness for free obviously but I’m working on it. The items I bought weren’t even what anybody else would fret about – a nice wooden hairbrush to replace my old one [long overdue], lots of almond milk [granted, this one was on sale but still a treat] and a magazine. Yet for me spending on anything aside from regular groceries is still an accomplishment. I know Cora can relate.

Obviously worked as usual.

Had some good conversations with my colleagues. If/when – and I’m really hoping it will happen in the not so distant future – I find another job I’m more passionate about these ladies are what I’ll miss the most. They’re the best. And no, not just because one of them – hearing me declare my fondness of After Eight chocolate santas – has already surprised me with an After Eight chocolate bunny for the second time already this past week. Literally the sweetest and I have no idea what I deserved it for.

Give proofs of love

Baked a loaf of gluten-free bread for my newly diagnosed celiac colleague. Granted, this is a stretch as I woudn’t consider it a true proof of love as she’s “just” a colleague but I’ll keep it here. And before you wonder why in the heck effing world a) she wouldn’t just buy bread from a bakery and b) I baked for her, here’s the low-down. A) She mentioned buying her first loaf of gluten-free bread in a break at work – as well as the fact that it was tiny and crazy expensive. Knowing the blog world I was convinced there -had- to be better and more affordable options. I’m very thankful for not having any true intolerances myself and don’t want anybody to miss out on their favourite foods if they have some so I offered to get baking. She – not a fan of baking – happily accepted the offer. It’s in the oven as we “speak” [or at least as I’m writing this] and I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed it’ll turn out]. This is the recipe I tried and I’ll report back once she has taste-tested it if any of you are curious.

This obviously wasn’t everything that happened but decided to keep things shorter today. So without further ado:

Happy Monday!

Happiness-inducing today: Sunny weather. Spring is definitely here now and I couldn’t be happier about it.

I just finished a book, Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, that looks at the research behind acting the way we want to feel, especially in regards to facial expressions. It’s fascinating stuff. Unfortunately, I fail big time at creating recipe names. However, I can say that, although the food photography process is frustrating, your picture of the PB chocolaty treat is making me drool. Success.

I bet that loaf of homemade bread meant the world to your colleague. Making things yourself, especially difficult things like gluten free goodies, and gifting them to a friend feels so good. There’s a lot of love in homemade bake goods.

Excuse me while I just focus on those peanut-butter-chocolate-crispy-i-dont-care-what-you-call-them-just-give-me-one-now creations of yours. Um. Please share the recipe ASAP.

Okay now that I can focus a little more on the other elements of this lovely post… I actually started to listen to Gretchen’s podcast this week. Did you know she has a podcast? This sounds like a book I could really take from right now. I like the first point the best. I think the “fake it till you make it” mentality can have a lot of validity. And something I think I need to do more of. This was a really good reminder. Thank you.

You know, I have needed to buy a new hairbrush for months now…. Just keep putting it off and off… So you are one step ahead of me!
I adore Gretchin Rubin and her Happiness Project inspiration. Have you read Happier at Home by her? That one I found really motivating!

So many touching moments from this week. I love that the bank employee took the time to reach out and have a real conversation. I love it when the people I encounter in every day life–whether it’s at the grocery store, the bank, at school, etc.–want to engage in real conversation and not just small talk, even if it’s just briefly.
Peanut butter chocolate crispy treats sounds totally delicious to me. And whatever you call it, those pictures look scrumptious! I will agree, taking photos is the hardest part of recipe development, but your photos always look super-appetizing to me!
It’s so sweet of you to make your colleague a loaf of gluten-free bread. I hope it turns out wonderfully! Especially brave because I know you’re a little wary of yeast.

Also that’s so cool that you made some gluten free bread for a friend; you are such a sweet friend to your friends. ❤ ❤ If I lived closer, I would want to send you some nut butter, cause I know options are more limited there.

I LOVE The Happiness Project–I read it a few months ago and I would love to reread it again soon. I’ve been reading lots of books about (sort of) the same thing this year but that one was definitely a standout.

Spending time in nature, getting something necessary checked off my list that I don’t really want to do (instead of putting it off), and spending meaningful time with friends and family are three of my happiness principles!